Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which
the body’s immune system – which normally protects its health by attacking
foreign substances like bacteria and viruses – mistakenly attacks the joints[1].
This creates inflammation that causes the tissue that lines the inside of
joints (the synovium) to thicken, resulting in swelling and pain in and around
the joints1.
Certain health conditions, such as RA, can be a pain to
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right decision is simple by choosing Life Alert Protection! But are you making
the right decision in your diet for your RA? Unfortunately, many of the foods
we love can create more inflammation and worsen an RA condition. Knowing this,
common sense would assume that avoiding certain foods should help you to manage
your condition better, right? So which
diets fit the bill and which don’t? Everyday Health1
2will help you take a look into the
Mediterranean, vegan, paleo and gluten-free diets to see which one suits your
RA and lifestyle.
The Mediterranean
Diet for RA
Based around the diet of people living in countries around
the Mediterranean Sea, this way of eating focuses on whole grains, fruits,
vegetables, and healthy fats such as olive oil, nuts, legumes, and fish,
according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). The Mediterranean
diet is an approach that has research to support it. It can bring pain relief
as well as reduced disease activity, according to a review of studies published
in February 2014 in the Spanish journal, Nutricion Hospitalaria. In general,
polyunsaturated fats and antioxidants, found in many foods in the Mediterranean
diet, are helpful, though the researchers concluded that more study is needed
on the topic of diet and RA. “This is the diet that we focus on most — all of
the individual components have anti-inflammatory properties,” says Linda
Antinoro, RD, LDN, CDE, a registered dietitian with Brigham and Women’s
Hospital in Boston. But she also takes a personalized approach, creating
healthy diets based on personal preferences of people with RA. “If someone
comes to us with rheumatoid arthritis, we will evaluate their diet and try to
clean it up," Antinoro says. That means aiming for whole foods as often as
possible and removing refined or processed foods. She says that she's often
asked if skipping vegetables from the nightshade family, like tomatoes and
peppers, will help joint pain. The AF says that this folk wisdom has little
clinical evidence behind it.
Other Diet Options
for RA
Although research on the effectiveness of diets other than
the Mediterranean diet is scant, many people with RA have tried these diet
approaches to help manage symptoms:
•Vegan. This diet
excludes all animal products, including meat, dairy, cheese, eggs, and fish,
according to the AND. It focuses on vegetables, fruits, and grains. Antinoro
suggests that people considering a vegan diet work with a dietitian to make
sure they’re getting all necessary nutrients.
•Paleo. Based on
how our hunter-gatherer ancestors are thought to have eaten, this diet includes
grass-fed meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables and excludes legumes, dairy, and
grains, according to the AND. “I support the fruit, vegetable, fish, and
grass-fed meat components, but I’m a little concerned about cutting out legumes
and whole grains,” Antinoro says. When people feel better on this diet, or on
any of the diets on this list, she suggests that it could be in part because
they're cutting out refined and processed foods and eating more whole foods.
•Gluten-free. A
gluten-free diet excludes all products that contain gluten, a protein found
primarily in wheat, barley, and rye. Substitute grains include rice, quinoa,
and millet, as the AND suggests. People with celiac disease have to cut gluten
out of their diet for medical reasons, and Antinoro points out that they might
see a reduction in joint pain as well, so people who happen to have gluten
sensitivity or celiac in addition to RA might notice some benefit.
Cutting down on certain foods could help lessen the
inflammation and pain of RA. Finding relief with RA is possible, just by eating
better! By making smart diet choices, you can not only do your body good, but
you can help to manage your RA conditions. Of course, check with your doctor
before making any drastic lifestyle changes.
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So get started battling your RA with a new diet and conquer
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Works Cited:
1.
“What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?” Arthritis Foundation. <http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/rheumatoid-arthritis/what-is-rheumatoid-arthritis.php>.
2.
Vann, Madeline R. “Special Diets for Rheumatoid
Arthritis.” Everyday Health.
11 August 2015.
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